News & Insights
Asbestos Awareness Week - Asbestos Labelling & Signage
In 2020, Asbestos Awareness Week runs from 23 - 29 November with the theme ‘asbestos lurks in more places than you’d think’, supplemented with the sub-theme ‘before you start, be aware’. The campaign messaging has three parts:
- KNOW the health risks of asbestos exposure
- BE AWARE of where asbestos might be found before you start work
- CALL a professional to check, remove and dispose of it safely.
This year, Greencap is sharing short pieces about asbestos regulations, requirements and best practices. This second piece focuses on the requirement to label asbestos in the workplace.
Asbestos Labelling & Signage
Indicating the presence and location of asbestos lies with the duty of the employer or person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) with management or control of a workplace.
The PCBU must ensure the presence and location of asbestos or asbestos containing materials (ACMs) identified, or assumed to be identified, at the workplace is clearly indicated by a label if reasonably practicable. This is to ensure the asbestos is not unknowingly disturbed without the correct precautions being taken.
In some cases, signs may be more appropriate to use. All warning signs should comply with the AS 1319 Safety Signs for the Occupational Environment.
The signs or labels should be weatherproof, constructed of light-weight material and adequately secured. Signs should be placed at all the main entrances to the work areas where asbestos is present.
Examples of labels or signs that can be used to indicate the location or presence of asbestos or ACM can be found in Appendix B of the Code of Practice: How to Manage & Control Asbestos in the Workplace (SafeWork NSW, 2019).
A competent person should determine the number and positions of the labels required. The location of labels should be consistent with the location listed in the asbestos register.
All asbestos waste should also be appropriately labelled.
Further Reading
Greencap Commences Partnership with Reflections as National Risk Management Supporter
Greencap is proud to announce its appointment as National Risk Management Supporter of Reflections - a not-for-profit committed to reducing the impact of asbestos on the community.
Learn in depth about asbestos labelling and signage requirements and more in Greencap's Online Asbestos Awareness Training course
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